Design & Technology at Alderbury & West Grimstead CE Primary School

Being an Engineer at AWGS gives pupils the opportunity to design, create and innovate. Through purposeful, practical activities, children learn how to take risks, solve problems and develop their creativity. Skills are taught progressively as pupils move through the school, enabling them to build confidence and competence in all aspects of Design and Technology.

A key part of the engineering process is evaluation. Children learn to reflect on their ideas, adapt their designs and improve their products — an essential life skill that supports resilience, critical thinking and independence.

We encourage pupils to draw on knowledge and skills from across the curriculum, particularly Maths, Science and Art, helping them see how engineering connects to the wider world.

Engineering Through Enquiry

Some enquiries have being an Engineer as the lead state of being, while many others use engineering as a secondary state. This is because engineering is often the vehicle through which pupils can express and apply their learning in other subjects.

Our enquiries cover the full breadth of the Design and Technology curriculum, including:

• Cooking and nutrition

• Mechanical systems

• Electrical systems

• Structures and mechanisms

• Textiles and materials

Across all year groups, teaching follows the design → make → evaluate cycle. This ensures pupils develop a clear understanding of the engineering process and can apply it confidently and creatively.